Infant containment safety attachment for scale weigh pan



Oct 18, 1966 s. N. FEINBERG ETAL 3,279,549

INFANT CONTAINMENT SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR SCALE WEIGH PAN INVENTORS M12/@IMA Oct. 18, 1966 S. N. FEINBERG ETAL INFANT CONTAINMENT SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR Filed Dec. 22, 1964 SCALE WEIGH PAN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Mba/adem United States Patent O 3,279,549 INFANT CONTAINMENT SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR SCALE WEIGH PAN Sheldon N. Feinberg, Harrington Park, and Theodorus H.

van der Schoot, Montvale, NJ., assignors to Medical Pragmatics, Inc., Hillsdale, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey l Filed Dec. 22, 1964, Ser. No. 420,392 S Claims. (Cl. 177-126) The present invention generally relates to a safety device intended primarily as an attachment to an infants scale, and more particularly Irelates to certain features of construction of such a safety device attachment which readily permits use thereof with said scale or with another similar piece of equipment used with infants, and which renders said device safe and effective for such a specialized use.

There is a recognized need for improvements in equipment used for infants, such as for example a safety barrier or similarly functioning device that can be attached to an infants scale to protect an infant from falling from said scale. Ideally, the safety device attachment should have several operable positions, in one position of which it is completely out of view as well as out of the way, in another position of which it can adequately protect an infant in a standing position on said scale, and in still another position of which it can adequately protect an infant in a less precarious position such as when sitting on said scale. As well as having this degree of flexibility, the safety device should also essentially be non-rigid so that while functioning as a protective barrier there is no likelihood Iof the infant sustaining any injury due to accidental falling against the said device, and yet said device must have sufiicient rigidity or body to properly function as a barrier.

Broadly it is an object of the present invention to provide a safety device which is adapted to be readily attached or otherwise operatively incorporated with an infants scale or another similar piece of equipment used for infants such as an examining table or the like. Specifically, it is an object to provide such a safety device attachment having features of construction for adequately func.- tioning as a barrier to protect the infant from falling from the scale or examining surface and which also is entirely safe in this specialized use and environment.

A further object is to provide a safety device attachment of essentially non-rigid construction which uses a net or the like as a protective barrier, and whichhas structure associated with said net or non-rigid barrier rendering the same easy to manage as for example during foldup thereof preparatory to storage and also during unfolding thereof preparatory to use.

A safety device attachment demonstrating features of the present invention is preferably comprised of a generally tubular open-ended net or other such foldable and flexible guard. Assuming use with an infants scale, said net is anchored at one end about the periphery of the Weighing pan of said scale and at its other end is connected to a rectangular member mounted on expandable supports. Thus, expansion of said supports away from the scale is effective to open the net and cause the same to function as a protective barrier about the scale to effectively prevent an infant from falling from the scale. At regular spaced intervals along the body of the tubular net there are additional rectangular members attached to said net to maintain its tubular shape. These members are also effective to neatly carry the net into a storage compartment when said members are -lowered into said storage compartment by contraction of said supports. During expansion of said supports said members are equally effective to neatly control the unfolding of the net from said storage Compartment.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment in accordance with the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a safety device demonstrating features `of the present invention attached to a typical infants scale;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation, in section, taken on line 2-2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a detailed elevational view, partly broken away and on an enlarged scale, of said safety device in a stored condition about said scale;

FIG. 4 is similarly an enlarged detailed view, in section, which best illustrates an acceptable way of connecting certain rods to the net `of said safety device;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are detailed, enlarged elevational views of the support structure of said safety device in its different positions of movement, to wit:

FIG. 5 illustrates said support `structure in a fully extended or open position;

FIG. 6 illustrates an intermediate position thereof; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view of said supporting structure, in section, taken on lines 7 7 of FIG. 6.

Having reference now particularly to FIGS. 1-4 of the drawings, there is shown therein an infants scale 10 to which there is suitably attached a safety device demonstrating features of the present invention, and generally designated 12. solely with the typical portable infants scale 10 which is illustrated, but may also be used, for example, 4in conjunction with an infants examining table or the like. More particularly, the contemplated use herein is with any item presenting a surface on which an infant is normally placed and in connection with which said safety device 12 may be used to advantage to protect the infant by preventing said infant from falling olf of said surface. By a comparison of FIGS. l, 3, it can be more particularly seen that said safety device 12 may be stored in a closed position about the scale 10 as is more particularly illustrated in FIG. 3, or that said safety device may be placed in a fully extended or open position as is more particularly illustrated in FIG. 1. In said FIG. 1 position it is further readily `seen that the safety device 12 functions as an extension of the scale 10 or as a protective lbarrier for the same, and is effective to thereby prevent an infant placed on said scale from accidentally falling therefrom.

As best shown in FIGS. l and 2, the scale 10 includes a housing 14 enclosing what will be understood to be usual weighing mechanisms provided with rod extensions 16 connected to a typical weighing pan 18. The scale 10 functions in a manner which is well understood to register the weight of an infant placed in the pan 18 on a visual indicator including a movable pointer and herein collectively designated 20. Stabilizing the scale 10 againsttipping or the like is a wide base-plate 22 appropriately connected to the base of the housing 14.

The weighing pan 18 includes a main, generally U- shaped body 24 comprised of a flat bottom 26 and having a surrounding cupped annular section providing a wall 28 entirely about said bottom 26. Suitably connected, as by welding or the like, about the periphery of and along the outside of the wall 28 is a wall configuration 30 which provides a storage compartment 32 for the safety device 12 which is separate and apart from the usual weighing compartment or area on the main body 24 of the pan 18. In a well understood manner, it is therefore a simple matter for the weight of said safety device 12 and said Wall extended or open 30 to be balanced out by adjustment of the Weighing mechanisms of the scale 10, just as for example the The safety device 12 is not limited to use l Weight of the weighing pan 18 is balanced out so that the visual indicator 20 registers only the Weight of the infant placed in the pan 18.

Having reference now specifically to the construction of the safety device 12, it will be seen that suitably mounted mounted on opposite ends of the wall 30 are L-shapedlframe members 34 which in turn each mount an identical expandable supporting mechanism or slide 36. 4The stru-ctural make-up of each slide 36 is secondary, it being necessary to the present invention only that as supports for the safety device 12 said slides 36 be expandable to provide a fully opened, fully closed, and intermediate position for said device, all as is subsequently explained in greater detail herein. For completeness of the description of the present invention, however, it will be understood that each slide 36 as best shown in FIGS. -7 is comprised of three telescoped slide members 38, 40 and 42 which are moved relative to each other to iprovide the numerous operating positions for said slides 36. The lowermost member 38 is preferably T-shaped in cross-section and is the member connected to each frame member 34. Slidably disposed on the medial leg 38a of the member 38 is the intermediate slide member 40 which as clearly illustrated in FIG. 7 is essentially U- shaped in cross-section. The upper slide member 42 is similarly essentially U-shaped in cross-section and is slidably disposed about the intermediate member 40. Parallel rods 44 are -accommodated in bores 46 provided half in one slide member and half in an adjacent slide member to thereby maintain the operative positions of the members 38, 40, 42 relative to each other, all as is clearly illustrated in FIG. 7. l Pivotally mounted, as -at 48, on the upper slide member 42 is la lever 50 having an end projection 52. Lever 50, under the urgency of a spring 54, is normally biased towards the slide member 42 placing said projection 52 in .the path of movement of said slide member 42 and also in the path of movement of the slide member 40. A springbiased latch 56 is mounted, as at 58, on the lower stationary member 38 and the latch spring 60 thereon projects a hook 62 formed on the end of said latch into the path of movement of the slide members 40, 42 so that the latch 56 is effective to engage the lower end of the intermediate slide member 40 to maintain the members 38 and 40 apart or in an open position relative to each other. During this time a position of the lever projection 52 can also be achieved placing said projection 52 -across the top of the slide member 40 to similarly maintain the slide members 40, 42 apart, with the over-al1 effect of thereby providing a fully extended position for each slide 36 as is clearly illustrated in FIG. 5. Provided along one side of the intermediate slide member 40 can be any number of stop holes 64a-c, only three of which, however, are illustrated, and which stop holes 64a-c provide the intermediate open positions of each of the slides 36. Thus, While the latch 56 is still engaging the slide member 40, the upper slide member 42 can be progressively telescoped upon said slide member 40 by selectively disposing the lever projection 52 first into the stop hole 64a, then into the stop hole 64b, and so forth. `In the FIG. 6 position, the level projection S2 aligns with the stop hole 64e to lock the slide members 40, 42 together and a cam surface 66 on the member 42 is effective to disengage the latch 56 from the bottom end of the slide member 40 permitting the locked-together members 40, 42 to fall by gravity about the stationary member 38 to thereby provide a fully contracted position 'for each slide 36.

Returning again to FIGS. 1-4, it will be better seen that the safety device 12 further includes a foldableand ilexible guard, which may be an accordion wall or as is described herein preferably is a tubular open-ended net 68, which moves with the slides 36 to function as an extension of the wall 28 of the scale 10. The lower open end 70 of the net 68 is'attached, as with a plurality of tie members 72, to the bottom Wall of the safety device storage `compartment 32 while the upper or opposite net end 74 is looped, as at 76, about a rectangular-shaped rod or tubular rail member 78. An L-shaped .frame member mounted at the uppermost end of each of the slide members 42 has a mounting plate 82 bolted at 84 to its horizontal-leg and said plate 82 will be understood to be clamped or otherwise suitably connected to one of the ends of the rail member 78. Betweenthe end of the net 68 anchored to the compartment 32 and the mem- 'ber 78 are three additional rectangular rods or tubular rail membersv86ac attached by tie members'88' (See FIG. 4) at spaced intervals along the body of the net 68.

From the foregoing description, it should be readily Aappreciated that the rail members 78 and 86a-c are effective to maintain a necessary tubular shape in the net 68 while said net functions as an extension of the scale 4wall 28, and that additionally said rail members neatly carry the net 68 into the compartment 32 for storage while being lowered therein during contraction lof the slides 36. Furthermore, in an intermediate open position of the net 68 to accommodate, for example, an infant that may be placed in a sitting position on the scale 10 to be weighed, and for which position the slides 36 are extended to raise only the rail members 78 and 86a above the scale 10, the upper portion of the net 68 attached to the rail members 78, 86a will be neatly unfolded from its FIG. 3 storage position during movement of said rail members 78, 86a while the remaining net portion is held by the Weight of the rail members 86b, 86C within the storage compartment 32. It will also be readily appreciated from the foregoing description that the safety device 12 presents what may be characterized as a non-rigid barrier in the form of said net 68 to achieve its objective, and therefore is a relatively safe device for use with infants in that it is not likely to cause any injury to an infant accidentally falling against the net barrier. At the same tim-e, however, said non-rigid net 68 is exceptionally easy to manage in that it is adapted to be neatly folded-up for storage and neatly unfolded for use, which is equallyimportant for equipment used in the presence and reachk of infants.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent scope of the invention herein.

What is claimed is: l

1. A safety device attachment for an infants scale comprising expandable support means, means operatively connected to and mounting said expandable support means on `said scale for movement away from and toward said scale, a tubular open-ended foldable and flexible guard normally disposed -in a stored position surrounding said scale, means including a rail member secured about one open end of said guard and operatively connecting said guard to said expandable support means for .movemerit of said end of said guard away from said scale and placing said guard into an extended position to provide a tubular extension for said scale to prevent an infant vfrom falling from said scale, means securing the other open end of said guard to said scale, and a plurality of rail members secured at spaced intervals along said guard to maintain a tubular shape in said guard.

2. A safety device attachment for an infants scale comprising a pair of expandable support means, means operatively connected to .and mounting said expandable support means in opposed relation to each other on said scale for movement away from and toward said scale, a tubular open-ended foldablei-arid flexible guard normally disposed in a stored position surrounding said scale, means including a rail member secured about one open end o f said guard and operatively connecting said guard to said ex- Paudable Support means for movement of said end of with the spirit and said guard away from said scale .and placing said guard into an extended position to provide a tubular extension for said scale to prevent an infant from falling from said scale, means securing the other open end of said guard to said scale, Vand a plurality of rail members secured at spaced intervals along said guard to maintain a tubular shape in said guard.

3. A safety device attachment for an infants scale comprising a pair of expandable support means, means operatively connected to and mounting said expandable support means in opposed relation to each other on said scale for movement laway from Iand toward said scale, a tubular open-ended foldable and flexible guard normally disposed in a stored position surrounding said scale, means including a generally rectangular rail member secured about one open end of said guard and operatively connecting said guard to said expandable support means Ifor movement of said end of said guard away from said scale and placing said guard into an extended position to provide a tubular extension for said scale to prevent an infant from falling from said scale, means securing the other open end of said guard to said scale, and a plurality of generally rectangular rail members secured at spaced intervals along said guard to maintain a tubular shape in said guard.

4. A safety device attachment for an infants scale comprising a pair of expandable support means, means operatively connected to and mounting said expandable support means in opposed relation to each other on said scale for movement away from and toward said scale, means connected to and dening .a storage compartment surrounding said scale, a tubular open-ended foldable `and flexible guard normally disposed in a stored position in said storage compartment, means including a generally rectangular rail member said guard and operatively connecting said guard to said expandable support means for movement of said end of secured about one open end of said guard away from said scale and placing said guard into an extended position to provide a tubular extension for said scale to prevent an infant from falling from said scale, means securing the other open end of said guard to said scale, and a plurality of generally rectangular rail members secured at spaced intervals along said guard to maintain a tubular shape in said guard.

5. A safety device attachment Ifor an infants scale comprising a pair of expandable support means, means operatively connected to and mounting said expandable support means in opposed relation to each other on said scale for movement away from and toward said scale, means connected to and defining a storage compartment surrounding said scale, a tubular open-ended net normally disposed in a stored position in said storage compartment, means including a generally `rectangular rail member secured about one open end of said net and operatively connecting said net to said expandable support means for movement of said end of said net away from said scale and placing said net into an extended position to provide a tubular extension for said scale to prevent an infant from falling from said scale, means securing the other open end of said net to said scale, and a plurality of generally rectangular rail mem-bers secured at spaced intervals along the body of said net to maintain a tubular shape in said net.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,866,683 7/1932 Tinnes 177-262 2,560,945 7/1951 Goldberger 177-144 X 2,931,640 4/1960 Riddle 177-262 3,127,948 4/1964 Nitenson 177-144 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SAFETY DEVICE ATTACHMENT FOR AN INFANT''S SCALE COMPRISING EXPANDABLE SUPPORT MEANS, MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO AND MOUNTING SAID EXPANDABLE SUPPORT MEANS ON SAID SCALE FOR MOVEMENT AWAY FROM AND TOWARD SAID SCALE, A TUBULAR OPEN-ENDED FOLDABLE AND FLEXIBLE GUARD NORMALLY DISPOSED IN A STORED POSITION SURROUNDING SAID SCALE, MEANS INCLUDING A RAIL MEMBER SECURED ABOUT ONE OPEN END OF SAID GUARD AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID GUARD TO SAID EXPANDABLE SUPPORT MEANS FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID END OF SAID GUARD AWAY FROM SAID SCALE AND PLACING SAID GUARD INTO AN EXTENDED POSITION TO PROVIDE A TUBULAR EXTENSION FOR SAID SCALE TO PREVENT AN INFANT FROM FALLING FROM SAID SCALE, MEANS SECURING THE OTHER OPEN END OF SAID GUARD TO SAID SCALE, AND A PLURALITY OF RAIL MEMBERS SECURED AT SPACED INTERVALS ALONG SAID GUARD TO MAINTAIN A TUBULAR SHAPE IN SAID GUARD. 